Page 166 of The Perfect Spiral
I don’t bother to lift my head to confirm. Then, the click of a camera. My eyes dart to the source of the sound.
He’s slouched on the sofa across the deck, next to the hot tub, camera in hand. The lens is aimed at me, the shutter clicking repeatedly.
I fix him with a hard stare. He lowers the camera, revealing his face. He’s staring back at me, his jaw set, his piercing blue eyes slicing through me.
His face is tense, every feature sharply defined. I break eye contact, turning my gaze to the sea’s horizon.
The camera shutter continues to click, and from the corner of my eye, I know he’s still taking pictures. I raise a hand to shield my face from the intrusive lens.
The door slides open again, and through my fingers, I see Lauren smirking at him. She saunters over, posing and stripping down to her bikini, putting on a show.
But he stops, pulling the camera away from his rugged face. Hestares at her as if she’s grown a second head, but I turn my gaze back to the sea. I refuse to watch her seduction.
Chapter 56
I rise, replacing the blanket, and head upstairs to change into my swimwear. Get me in the water, now, I chant in my head.
Footsteps echo behind me, but I manage to pull on my bikini top before the intruder can catch a glimpse of my bare chest. He’s leaning against his door frame, arms and legs crossed, watching me with an intense gaze. His eyes cut through my skin with a force I’ve never experienced. A slight frown mars his face.
He stands there, shirtless, his body on display in grey shorts, his arms noticeably muscular. He’s wearing a black SnapBack, and I’ve always had a thing for guys in SnapBacks.
We stare at each other as if we’re the only two people in the world. What is his problem?
After a few moments, I stride over to my door, maintaining eye contact, and kick it shut with my foot. I lock it and change into my bottoms.
When I reopen my door, he’s still there, still staring. With my phone and lotion in hand, I grab my own grey baseball hat to match my neon green top and grey bikini bottoms, and descend the stairs.
His footsteps follow closely behind, but I continue walking, refusing to break the silence. He’s trying to make me crack first. But I’m stubborn. I won’t. We haven’t spoken since last night.
Outside, a crowd has gathered around Lauren, camera flashesilluminating her. I feel him behind me, his fingers brushing the small of my back.
My breath hitches for a moment, but I hurry down the steps, reaching for my board. Before I can grab it, he pushes me into the shed, closing the door behind us.
He adjusts his SnapBack, turning it backwards. Damn, that’s hot. His eyes roam over my body. Is he checking me out?
His tongue darts out to wet his lips. He’s blocking my exit. This asshole. I take my board and attempt to leave, but he steps in front of me, stopping me.
He takes my board and sets it on the floor of the dusty blue shed. The sound of wood clashing against wood echoes in the small space.
He steps closer, and I step back. He repeats the action, and so do I, until I run out of room and my back hits the wall. Neither of us speaks.
He moves slowly, cornering me. I turn my head, refusing to meet his gaze. I can’t. If I look into his eyes, those eyes that make me weak, I’ll lose all control.
He removes my hat, tossing it to the floor, then bends down to hook his hands around the back of my legs.
Slowly, he lifts me, my back scraping against the wall. It doesn’t hurt, and it won’t leave marks, but I can feel it.
He continues to lift me until he’s standing at his full height, pressing me harder against the wall. My legs instinctively wrap around his waist.
My hands ball into fists at my sides, resisting the urge to run them up his chiseled chest and wrap them around his neck.
My breath catches as I feel his breath on my neck, followed by the light brush of his lips. They trace a path up my jawline, his hot breath sending tingles down my spine.
My breathing becomes erratic, my heart pounding. His lips kiss my jaw, then trail down the left side of my neck, the kisses deepening.
Then he’s biting and sucking at my neck. I should stop him, but it feels so good.
Then I feel his hand release me, trailing up my arm. He stops when he’s level with my breast. His fingers lightly skim over the material of my bikini top, causing my nipples to harden.
